England end 28 years wait, clinch test series by 2-1

Nagpur: As the fourth and final test match between Indian and England ended in a draw on Monday, the visitors broke a 28-year-old jinx by achieving a historic Test series win by 2-1. The last time an English side had defeated India in their own den was way back in 1984-85, under the captaincy of David Gower.

The day belonged to centurions Jonathan Trott (143) and Ian Bell’s unbeaten 116 even as the story remained the same for a hapless India who toiled without much success before the match was called off on the final day with England scoring 352 for four.

Bell and debutant Joe Root (20) were at the crease when the stumps were drawn for the final time in the series.

It was a remarkable turnaround from the visitors after the humiliating defeat in the series opener in Ahmedabad a month ago.

Trott made an obdurate 143 in 406 minutes, hitting 18 fours, while Bell was equally tenacious in making an unbeaten 116 in 383 minutes as the duo dashed the hosts’ hopes of a series-levelling win with their 208-run fourth-wicket partnership.

For India, Ravichandran Ashwin took two for 99 while Pragyan Ojha and Ravindra Jadeja picked up a wicket apiece.

The visitors had made 330 in the first innings and the hosts had replied with 326 for nine declared.

Incidentally, just like Alastair Cook and his men have done in this rubber, Gower’s outfit too had rebounded after losing the opening Test.

After trailing 1-2 it became a formidable task for India ahead of series decider.

India had a whiff of a chance when they reduced England to 139 for five on the first day, but did not tighten the noose as Root (73) and wicketkeeper Matt Prior (57) led the tourists’ revival with a partnership of 103.

And after managing to restrict England to 330, the Indian batting was rocked by the fiery three-wicket burst from James Anderson.